Fungi 1 Flashcards
What two structures do anti-fungals target?
beta-glucan
ergosterol
Why are there so few antifungal targets?
machinery is too similar to humans -> antifungals have toxicity in humans
Why do fungi cause more cutaneous infections and food spoilage than do bacteria?
fungi can grow in drier, higher-osmotic-pressure, colder environments
What type of fungus is single-celled and grows by budding?
yeast
Which type of fungus grows in hyphae/mycelia, and have complex reproduction?
mold
What reproductive process is common to both types of fungi?
fungal mitosis
which type of fungi has closed mitosis?
yeast
What are conidia? How many types are there, and how are they distinguished in diagnosis?
- asexual spores (fungal)
- 5 types
- distinct microscopic appearanes
What is fungal thermal dimorphism? What can be used for diagnosis?
- some fungal pathogens grow as mold at 24C and as yeast at 37C
- dual cultures
which type of fungus has more immune-evasive properties?
yeast (grows at body temp)
What is the immune response to fungal infection?
granulomatous
-sometimes suppurative
How are must fungal pathogens characterized? Is there high contagion or drug resistance? Is there eradication? What is the exception and why?
- environmental
- little contagion
- little drug resistance
- no eradication
- EXCEPT C. albicans - normal flora, opportunistic
Is mycotoxicosis caused by fungal infection?
NO - caused by eating fungal toxins
What kind of reaction can occur in a fungal allergy?
asthsmatic
PPD, KOH-mount microscopy with stains, and culture on Sabouraud’s agar are all used to diagnose ______ infections
fungal
The antifungal agents Polyenes distrput fungal ________ at _______ insertion sites.
cell membranes
ergosterol
The antifungal agents Azoles inhibit ______ synthesis
ergosterol
The antifungal agents Echinocandins inhibit ______ synthesis
beta-glucan
Which class of antifungals is the only broad-spectrum? What is the problem?
Polyenes
Toxic
What example of a Polyene antifungal drug is the only systemic one? What is the problem?
Amphotericin B
Nephrotoxic
What class of antifungal drugs are Fluconazole/Diflucan? What are they used to treat? Are they more or less toxic to polyenes?
- Azoles
- candidiasis and cryptococcosis
- less toxic
What class of antifungal drug has the lowest toxicity? What are they highly effective against?
- echinocandins
- candida and aspergillus
